ADDRESS 


OF 

BOOKER  T.  WASHINGTON 

PRINCIPAL  OF  THE 

Tuskegee  Normal  and  Industrial  Institute 

TUSKEGEE,  ALABAMA 


DELIVERED  AT  THE  OPENING  OF  THE 

Cotton  States  and  International  Exposition 

at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  September  18,  1895 


WITH 

A LETTER  OF  CONGRATULATION 

FROM  THE 


PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 


The  requests  from  all  parts  of  this  country,  and 
even  out  of  it,  for  copies  of  this  address  have 
been  so  many  and  so  constant  that  it  has  been  de- 
cided to  put  it  into  this  more  permanent  form. 


Gray  Gables,  Buzzards  Bay,  Mass. 

October  6,  1395. 

Booker  T.  Washington,  Esq. 

My  Dear  Sir:  I thank  you  for  sending  me  a 
copy  of  your  address  delivered  at  the  Atlanta  Ex- 
position. 

I thank  you  with  much  enthusiasm  for  making 
the  address.  I have  read  it  with  intense  interest, 
and  I think  the  Exposition  would  be  fully  justi- 
fied if  it  did  not  do  more  than  furnish  the  oppor- 
tunity for  its  delivery.  Your  words  cannot  fail  to 
delight  and  encourage  all  who  wish  well  for  your 
race;  and  if  our  colored  fellow  citizens  do  not 
from  your  utterances  gather  new  hope  and  form 
new  determinations  to  gain  every  valuable  ad- 
vantage offered  them  by  their  citizenship,  it  will 
be  strange  indeed. 

Yours  very  truly, 

Grover  Cleveland. 


(3) 


[Signed  article  in  New  York  World  by  Hon. 
Clark  Howell,  Editor  Atlanta  Constitution,  Sep- 
tember 19,  1895.] 

CLARK  HOWELL. 

Atlanta,  Ga.,  September  19th. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  World: 

I do  not  exaggerate  when  I say  that  Prof. 
Booker  T.  Washington’s  address  yesterday  was 
one  of  the  most  notable  speeches,  both  as  to  char- 
acter and  the  warmth  of  its  reception,  ever  deliv- 
ered to  a Southern  audience.  It  was  an  epoch- 
making  talk,  and  marks  distinctly  a turning 
point  in  the  progress  of  the  Negro  race,  and  its  ef- 
fect in  bringing  about  a perfect  understanding 
between  the  whites  and  blacks  of  the  South  will 
be  immediate.  The  address  was  a revelation.  It 
was  the  first  time  that  a Negro  orator  had  ap- 
peared on  a similar  occasion  before  a Southern 
audience. 

The  propriety  of  inviting  a representative  of 
the  Negro  race  to  participate  in  the  opening  ex- 
ercises was  fully  discussed  a month  ago,  when  the 
opening  program  was  being  arranged.  Some  op- 
position was  manifested  on  account  of  the  fear 
that  public  sentiment  was  not  prepared  for  such 
an  advanced  step.  The  invitation,  however,  was 
extended  by  a vote  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  and 
the  cordial  greeting  which  the  audience  gave 
Washington’s  address  shows  that  the  Board  made 
no  mistake.  There  was  not  a line  in  the  address 


(4) 


which  would  have  been  changed  even  by  the  most 
sensitive  of  those  who  thought  the  invitation  to 
be  imprudent.  The  whole  speech  is  a platform 
on  which  the  whites  and  blacks  can  stand  with 
full  justice  to  each  race. 

The  speech  is  a full  vindication  from  the  mouth 
of  a representative  Negro  of  the  doctrine  so  elo- 
quently advanced  by  Grady  and  those  who  have 
agreed  with  him  that  it  is  to  the  South  that  the 
Negro  must  turn  for  his  best  friend,  and  that  his 
welfare  is  so  closely  identified  with  the  progress 
of  the  white  people  of  the  South  that  each  race  is 
mutually  dependent  upon  the  other,  and  that  the 
so-called  “race  problem”  must  be  solved  in  the 
development  of  the  natural  relations  growing  out 
of  the  association  between  the  whites  and  blacks 
of  the  South. 

The  . question  of  social  equality  is  eliminated  as 
a factor  in  the  development  of  the  problem,  and 
the  situation  is  aptly  expressed  by  Washington 
in  the  statement  that  “in  all  things  that  are 
purely  social  we  can  be  as  separate  as  the  nngers, 
yet  one  as  the  hand  in  all  things  essential  to  mu- 
tual progress.” 

The  speech  will  do  good,  and  the  unanimous 
approval  with  which  it  has  been  received  demon- 
strates the  fact  that  is  has  already  done  good. 

Clark  Howell, 

Editor  of  the  Atlanta  Constitution. 


(5) 


MR.  WASHINGTON’S  ADDRESS. 


Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Board 
of  Directors  and  Citizens  : 

One-third  of  the  population  of  the  South  is  of 
the  Negro  race.  No  enterprise  seeking  the  ma- 
terial, civil,  or  moral  welfare  of  this  section  can 
disregard  this  element  of  our  population  and 
reach  the  highest  success.  I but  convey  to  you, 
Mr.  President  and  Directors,  the  sentiment  of 
the  masses  of  my  race  when  I say  that  in  no  way 
have  the  value  and  manhood  of  the  American  Ne- 
gro been  more  fittingly  and  generously  recog- 
nized than  by  the  managers  of  this  magnificent 
Exposition  at  every  stage  of  its  progress.  It  is 
a recognition  that  will  do  more  to  cement  the 
friendship  of  the  two  races  than  any  occurrence 
since  the  dawn  of  our  freedom. 

Not  only  this,  but  the  oportunity  here  afforded 
will  awaken  among  us  a new  era  of  industrial 
progress.  Ignorant  and  inexperienced,  it  is  not 
strange  that  in  the  first  years  of  our  new  life  we 
began  at  the  top  instead  of  at  the  bottom ; that  a 
seat  in  Congress  or  the  State  Legislature  was 
more  sought  than  real  estate  or  industrial  skill; 
that  the  political  convention  or  stump  speaking 
had  more  attractions  than  starting  a dairy  farm 
or  truck  garden. 

A ship  lost  a sea  for  many  days  suddenly  sight- 
ed a friendly  vessel.  From  the  mast  of  the  unfor- 
tunate vessel  was  seen  a signal:  “Water,  water; 


(6) 


we  die  of  thirst !”  The  answer  from  the  friendly 
vessel  at  once  came  back : “Cast  down  your  buck- 
et where  you  are.”  A second  time  the  signal, 
“Water,  water;  send  us  water!”  ran  up  from  the 
distressed  vessel,  and  was  answered:  “Cast  down 
your  bucket  where  you  are.”  And  a third  and 
fourth  signal  for  water  was  answered:  “Cast 
down  your  bucket  where  you  are.”  The  captain 
of  the  distressed  vessel,  at  last  heeding  the  in- 
junction, cast  down  his  bucket,  and  it  came  up 
full  of  fresh,  sparkling  water  from  the  mouth  of 
the  Amazon  River.  To  those  of  my  race  who  de- 
pend on  bettering  their  condition  in  a foreign 
land,  or  who  underestimate  the  importance  of 
cultivating  friendly  relations  with  the  Southern 
white  man,  who  is  their  next-door  neighbor,  I 
would  say:  “Cast  down  your  bucket  where  you 
are” — cast  it  down  in  making  friends  in  every 
manly  way  of  the  people  of  all  races  by  whom  we 
are  surrounded. 

Cast  it  down  in  agriculture,  mechanics,  in  com- 
merce, in  domestic  service  and  in  the  professions. 
And  in  this  connection  it  is  well  to  bear  in 
mind  that  whatever  other  sins  the  South  may  be 
called  to  bear,  when  it  comes  to  business,  pure 
and  simple,  it  is  in  the  South  that  the  Negro  is 
given  a man’s  chance  in  the  commercial  world,  and 
in  nothing  is  this  Exposition  more  eloquent  than 
in  emphasizing  this  chance.  Our  greatest  dan- 
ger is,  that  in  the  great  leap  from  slavery  to  free- 
dom we  may  overlook  the  fact  that  the  masses  of 
us  are  to  live  by  the  productions  of  our  hands,  and 
fail  to  keep  in  mind  that  we  shall  prosper  in  pro- 
portion as  we  learn  to  dignify  and  glorify  com- 
mon labor  and  put  brains  and  skill  into  the  com- 
mon occupations  of  life;  shall  prosper  in  propor- 
tion as  we  learn  to  draw  the  line  between  the 


(7) 


superficial  and  the  substantial,  the  ornamental 
gewgaws  of  life  and  the  useful.  No  race  can 
prosper  till  it  learns  that  there  is  as  much  dignity 
in  tilling  a field  as  in  writing  a poem.  It  is  at 
the  bottom  of  life  we  must  begin,  and  not  at  the 
top.  Nor  should  we  permit  our  grievances  to 
overshadow  our  opportunities. 

To  those  of  the  white  race  who  look  to  the  in- 
coming of  those  of  foreign  birth  and  strange 
tongue  and  habits  for  the  prosperity  of  the  South, 
were  I permitted  I would  repeat  what  I say  to 
my  own  race,  “Cast  down  your  bucket  where  you 
are.”  Cast  it  down  among  the  8,000,000  Ne- 
groes whose  habits  you  know,  whose  fidelity  and 
love  you  have  tested  in  days  when  to  have  proved 
treacherous  meant  the  ruin  of  your  firesides. 
Cast  down  your  bucket  among  these  people  who 
have,  without  strikes  and  labor  wars,  tilled  your 
fields,  cleared  your  forests,  builded  your 
railroads  and  cities,  and  brought  forth 

treasures  from  the  bowels  of  the  earth  and 
helped  make  possible  this  magnificent  rep- 
resentation of  the  progress  of  the  South. 
Casting  down  your  bucket  among  my  people,  help- 
ing and  encouraging  them  as  you  are  doing  on 
these  grounds,  and  to  education  of  head,  hand, 
and  heart,  you  will  find  that  they  will  buy  your 
surplus  land,  make  blossom  the  waste  places  in 
your  fields,  and  run  your  factories.  While  doing 
this,  you  can  be  sure  in  the  future,  as  in  the  past, 
that  you  and  your  families  will  be  surrounded  by 
the  most  patient,  faithful,  law-aoiding,  and  un- 
resentful  people  that  the  world  has  seen.  As  we 
have  proved  our  loyalty  to  you  in  the  past,  in 
nursing  your  children,  watching  by  the  sick  bed 
of  your  mothers  and  fathers,  and  often  following 
them  with  tear-dimmed  eyes  to  their  graves,  so 


(8) 


in  the  future,  in  our  humble  way,  we  shall  stand 
by  you  with  a devotion  that  no  foreigner  can  ap- 
proach, ready  to  lay  down  our  lives,  if  need  be, 
in  defense  of  yours,  interlacing  our  industrial, 
commercial,  civil,  and  religious  life  with  yours 
in  a way  that  shall  make  the  interests  of  both 
races  one.  In  all  things  that  are  purely  social 
we  can  be  as  separate  as  the  fingers,  yet  one  as 
the  hand  in  all  things  essential  to  mutual 
progress. 

There  is  no  defense  or  security  for  any  of  us 
except  in  the  highest  intelligence  and  develop- 
ment of  all.  If  anywhere  there  are  efforts  tend- 
ing to  curtail  the  fullest  growth  of  the  Negro, 
let  these  efforts  be  turned  into  stimulating,  en- 
couraging, and  making  him  the  most  useful  and 
intelligent  citizen.  Efforts  or  means  so  invested 
will  pay  a thousand  per  cent,  interest.  These  ef- 
forts will  be  twice  blessed — “blessing  him  that 
gives  and  him  that  takes.” 

There  is  no  escape  through  law  of  man  or  God 
from  the  inevitable: 

The  laws  of  changeless  justice  bind 
Oppressor  with  oppressed; 

And  close  as  sin  and  suffering  joined 
We  march  to  fate  abreast. 

Nearly  sixteen  millions  of  hands  will  aid  you 
in  pulling  the  load  upwards,  or  they  will  pull 
against  you  the  load  downwrards.  We  shall  con- 
stitute one-third  and  more  of  the  ignorance  and 
crime  of  the  South,  or  one-third  its  intelligence 
and  progress;  we  shall  contribute  one-third  to 
the  business  and  industrial  prosperity  of  the 
South,  or  we  shall  prove  a veritable  body  of 
death,  stagnating,  depressing,  retarding  every 
effort  to  advance  the  body  politic. 


(9) 


Gentlemen  of  the  Exposition,  as  we  present  to 
you  our  humble  effort  at  an  exhibition  of  our 
progress,  you  must  not  expect  overmuch.  Start- 
ing thirty  years  ago  with  ownership  here  and 
there  in  a few  quilts  and  pumpkins  and  chickens, 
remember  the  path  that  has  led  from  these  to  the 
inventions  and  production  of  agricultural  imple- 
ments, buggies,  steam  engines,  newspapers, 
books,  statuary,  carving,  paintings,  the  man- 
agement of  drug  stores  and  banks  has  not  been 
trodden  without  contact  with  thorns  and  thistles. 
While  we  take  pride  in  what  we  exhibit  as  a re- 
sult of  our  independent  efforts,  we  do  not  for  a 
moment  forget  that  our  part  in  this  exhibition 
would  fall  far  short  of  your  expectations  but  for 
the  constant  help  that  has  come  to  our  educational 
life,  not  only  from  the  Southern  «States,  but  es- 
pecially from  Northern  philanthropists,  who  have 
made  their  gifts  a constant  stream  of  blessing 
and  encouragement. 

The  wisest  among  my  race  understand  that 
the  agitation  of  questions  of  social  equality  is  the 
extremest  folly,  and  that  progress  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  all  the  privileges  that  will  come  to  us 
must  be  the  result  of  severe  and  -constant  strug- 
gle rather  than  of  artificial  forcing.  No  race 
that  has  anything  to  contribute  to  the  markets 
of  the  world  is  long  in  any  degree  ostracized.  It 
is  important  and  right  that  all  privileges  of  the 
law  be  ours,  but  it  is  vastly  more  important  that 
we  be  prepared  for  the  exercises  of  these  privil- 
eges. The  opportunity  to  earn  a dollar  in  a 
factory  just  now  is  worth  infinitely  more  than  the 
opportunity  to  spend  a dollar  in  an  opera  house. 

In  conclusion,  may  I repeat  that  nothing  in 
thirty  years  has  given  us  more  hope  and  encour- 
agement, and  drawn  us  so  near  to  you  of  the 


(io) 


white  race,  as  this  opportunity  offered  by  the  Ex- 
position; and  here  bending,  as  it  were,  over  the 
altar  that  represents  the  results  of  the  struggles 
of  your  race  and  mine,  both  starting  practically 
empty-handed  three  decades  ago,  I pledge  that  in 
your  effort  to  work  out  the  great  and  intricate 
problem  which  God  has  laid  at  the  doois  ot  the 
South  you  shall  have  at  all  times  the  patient,  sym- 
pathetic help  of  my  race ; only  let  this  be  constant- 
ly in  the  mind  that,  while  from  representations 
in  these  buildings  of  the  product  ot  field,  of  forest, 
of  mine,  of  factory,  letters,  and  art,  much  good 
will  come,  yet  far  above  and  beyond  material 
benefits  will  be  that  higher  good,  that  let  us  pray 
God  will  come,  in  a blotting  out  of  sectional  differ- 
ences and  racial  animosities  and  suspicions,  in  a 
determination  to  administer  absolute  justice,  in 
a willing  obedience  among  all  classes  to  the  man- 
dates of  law.  This,  this,  coupled  with  our 
material  prosperity,  will  bring  into  our  beloved 
Southland  a new  heaven  and  a new  earth. 


(u) 


. 


